Sydney Adventist College

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Sydney Adventist College
Nihil Sine Deo (Latin:"Nothing Without God")
Established	1919
School Type	Independent, Co-educational, Day School
Denomination	Seventh-Day Adventist
Slogan	Nurture for Today, Learning for Tomorrow, Character for Eternity.
Key People	M Chapman (Principal) B Robinson (Deputy Principal) R Reid (Chaplain) R Karraz (Chairman)
School Fees	AU$6,240–10,816 p.a (Australian students)[1] AU$15,317–17,550 p.a (International students)[2]
Location	Strathfield & Auburn, New South Wales, Australia
Enrolment	~985 (P–12)[3]
Employees	~97[4]
Revenue	AU$21,538,545 (2006)[4]
Colours	Blue, Red and White
Homepage	www.sac.nsw.edu.au

Sydney Adventist College is an independent, co-educational, Seventh-day Adventist, day school, located in Strathfield & Auburn, both inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The school is colloquially known as SAC or Sydney Adventist.

The School is part of the International Seventh-day Adventist Education system (the second-largest Christian school system in the world, with 1.3 million students) and is operated by the Greater Sydney Conference (GSC), one of many Adventist Conferences in Australia. The school is affiliated with the health food company Sanitarium, The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), the Sydney Adventist Hospital and the Seventh Day Adventist Churches in Sydney.

The School has 8 sister schools running in 12 campuses in Sydney, and another 65 in Australia. The school is one of the five, major Adventist schools internationally (there are 6,966 Adventist schools worldwide). Sydney Adventist College is also related to Avondale College, a university located in Cooranbong.

The main campus at Strathfield has facilities that can accommodate well over 2000 students. The school utilises a school uniform system, with a total of 12 uniform sets, at the 2 campuses combined.

Adventist College of English opperates as an annexe of Sydney Adventist College and is located in the Strathfield campus.

Contents 1 History 2 School campus 2.1 Strathfield campus 2.2 Auburn campus 2.3 Other Campuses and Notable Locations 3 College logo and crest 4 School life 5 Houses 6 Sport 7 Connecting schools 8 Future plans 9 Adventist College of English 10 Notable Alumni 10.1 Sport 11 Associated schools and institutions 11.1 Sister schools in Sydney 11.2 Closely related sister schools 12 References 13 See also 14 External links

[edit] History

The school first opened as 'Adventist High School' with only 20 students in 1919 at Patterson Street, Concord, New South Wales, an inner-western suburb in Sydney. The school was conducted by the former Australasian Union Conference. It opened as an intermediate school as a gateway for the several Adventist primary schools in Sydney and Avondale College.

In 1922 the school was a secondary department for what was then, Auburn Adventist Primary School (now, Sydney Adventist College, Auburn Campus). In 1937, a property was purchased at Burwood and the school was moved there. The school provided Years 7, 8 and 9, having approximately 50 students. Enrollment rose rapidly to over 120 students and the school found it was in need of a newer and larger location.

In 1952, the school was opened at its current location today in Albert Street, Strathfield as Burwood Adventist High School. The building was a single storey building in a 'U' shape. In 1965, junior high students from Wahroonga Adventist School and Marrickville Adventist School (now, Hurstville Adventist School) were all transferred to Burwood Adventist High School due to over crowding, the high school system at Wahroonga and Hustville schools ceased. The school had now changed its name to Strathfield Adventist High School

In 1966 the school was in need of major extensions, therefore the second storey and basement floors were built on above and below of the existing single storey. In 1967, the school was again increasing in numbers and was in need of more classrooms. The East Wing was then built, as well as extensions to the "U" building. The school had developed into a full high school system and was renamed Sydney Adventist High School in the same year. In 1973 the new and larger two storey library was built. The School Activity Centre and Technology and Applied Studies Building wasopened in 1984. The Library later needed extensions, and that addition was completed in 1995. In 1998 Sydney Adventist High School was renamed Sydney Adventist College. Extensions were also completed at the front of the school for the Administration office and Student Services office in 2005.

[edit] School campus

[edit] Strathfield campus

The Strathfield campus is the original and main school. It hosts the senior (Years 5 - 12) school at a large campus. The school consists of 6 extremely large buildings with many breezeways and extension walkways.

• Quadrangle, The main area is the Quadrangle, where 4 locker rooms, department offices, student services office, uniform store, standard classrooms and classrooms with equipt smartboards are located. Because of its large size, the centre of the quadrangle is used for regular school assemblies and in summer, a volleyball net is set up for lunchtime games and house competitions. The Language departments, the old staff room and the purchasing offices are located on the same level as quadrangle classrooms (ground floor). However, the ground floor is not on the same level of the quadrangle's ground floor, but on an elevated level from the main quadrangle floor. Basement levels are underneath the quadrangle building. The Lower quadrangle accommodates the 'Adventist College of English' School, while the upper quadrangle has the science classrooms and laboratories and the music department. In total, the Quadrangle has 4 standing levels, basement level, ground, upper ground floor and second floor.

• LRC and IT Centre, The IT and computer rooms and laboratories are located on a third floor from the quadrangle with the library and resource centre and the Library Intruction Room (LIR) a floor below and on the same floor respectively, although the library and IT rooms are not considered to be in the quadrangle, it is a diifferent building with connecting walkways and stairs.

• East Wing, The East Wing is a three storey building housing English, HSIE (History, Geography) and Business subject classes. It also houses the year 12 common room and year 9 and 10 lockers on the bottom floor. The East Wing was completed in 1967. It has a medium sized terrace area in front of it.

• The Activities Centre and Auditorium, The Activities Centre or the Auditorium is located in 'The West Wing', the largest building at Sydney Adventist College. It is a five storey building but its actual size is seven storeys high. The Activities Centre also feature 2 half size basketball courts, 1 full size basketball court, 3 badmington courts and large stage with stage doors, as well as under dorrs, change rooms, upper keeping areas and an upper view terrace. The front section of the Activities Centre is the lobby and cafe area, as well as stairs to upper levels, where more seating and other rooms are located. There is a bridge that connects the side entrance of the auditorium with a breezeway that connects with the second/third level of the quadrangle. The Activities Centre and Auditorium is colloquially called 'The Hall' by student of the college. The school hosted the iGeneration Concert in the main concert hall in 2007. Neighbouring schools frequently hire the centre for concerts, services and sport.

• Technology Centre, The Technology Centre and Design and the arts Departments are located in 'The West Wing. The technology centre has plastic classrooms, metal classrooms and wood work class and prac rooms, computer design lecture rooms, textile classrooms, food technology and hospitality classrooms, cooking rooms, kitchenettes, visual art, cereamic and photography classrooms and well as dark rooms, kiln and large storage rooms. It has 2 major entrances.

• The Field, The school field is used for everyday sport and PDHPE classess as well as student recreation. There are discus areanas and cricket nets located on the side of the School field. The field is large enough to be used as a javelin arena.

• Back Courts, The Back Courts is where the tennis, volleyball and outdoor basketball courts are located. This area is accessed through the field. This space is occasionally rented out to the public on non school days.

• Weather Station, The weather station is a small weather collection and study area located near the East Wing terrace.

• Administration, The Administration office allows access from the main street entrance with the quadrangle. The Principal's Office, Accounting and Busaring offices, Main office, Student services office, Interview Rooms, Sickbays and New Staff Room are all located in the newly built Administration Office, which was completed in 2005.

• Southern Driveway, The Southern Driveway links the front of the school to the walkway between the East Wing and the Quadrangle, as well as the Staff Carpark. It is also the main entrance for students in the morning and afternoon.

• North Side, North Side is a driveway that links the front of Auditorium and school with the Technology Centre and the School Field. There is also a car entrance on the side that allows vehicles to access the middle of the Quadrangle. Service and delivery trucks, School busses and non-school vehicles use this entrance.

• Residential Buildings, The school has the ownership of most buildings and residential housing surrounding the college campus on Albert Road, Dickson Street and Merley Road.

When the school established in it location today, the quadrangle was only a quarter of its size and only one storey. Upgardes to the quadrangle were completed in 1966, which was an addition of a second floor and basement levels. In 1967 The East wing was built. In 1973 The library and IT centre buildings were built and connected to the quad. In 1984 The Activities centre and technical applied studies rooms were opened. The library was in need of an extension, in 1995 a second level was built into the library and added more classrooms and IT rooms. In 2005 the completion of the new and expanded administration area at the front of the school was opened.

[edit] Auburn campus

The Auburn Campus, is located in the Sydney suburb of Auburn and hosts the Preparatory and Primary school (P-4).

The Auburn campus consists of two large building, a large field, a basketball court, a long and wide driveway, 6 handball courts, a medium sized playground and sandpit, and a small field.

Sydney Adventist College, Auburn Campus was previously known as Auburn Adventist School. The first Adventist school in Sydney.

[edit] Other Campuses and Notable Locations

Sydney Adventist College has other notable campuses and locations that are owned in conjunction with other Adventist systems and companies, these include: Crosslands, youth and convention centre (Crosslands), Main Office (Epping), and many smaller sporting locations.

The school is awaiting approval of a new campus at Hurstville, which will replace the existing Hurstville Adventist School. This will make Sydney Adventist College a 3 campus school, with two P-4 class systems at 2 campuses (Auburn & Hurstville), three 5&6 class systems at 3 campuses (Auburn, Hurstville and Strathfield) and a 7-12 multi-class system only at the Strathfield campus.

[edit] College logo and crest

• The College Crest:
  * Torch: The flame of the Holy Spirit
  * Bible: Christian Lifestyle and foundation of education
  * Eucalyptus Leaves: Australian Location
  * Bottom Banner: 'Nihil Sine Deo' which means 'Nothing Without God'
• The College Logo:
  * Bible: The foundations of education
  * Cross: Representing the school's religious belief
  * Flames: Flames of the Holy Spirit

The school logo is a direct copy of the international Adventist logo, except it is fully gold in colour, not gold and green. The same logo (using their school name) is used for all Adventist schools operated by the Greater Sydney Conference. Sydney Adventist College is the only school in the system to keep the college crest, and use the logo for marketing purposes only.

The logo is currently only used for marketing and school stationary. The new logo was first seen and used on the iGeneration concert T-Shirt designed by the surfing and clothing brand Billabong Australia.

[edit] School life

School commences at 8:35am when the first warning bell rings. Students then make their way to their homeroom for Pastrol Care (PCG) or Roll marking until 8:50am (Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays) or 9:00am on Thursdays.

Every Wednesday the school holds a chapel in the school activities centre from 8:50am to 9:45am. After PCG or Chapel the students make their way to classes. Each day has 6 periods except for Mondays for year 7, Tuesdays for years 9, 10, 11 and 12 and on Wednesdays for year 8 where students have sport generally out of school, hence a 4 period day.

However, students who do extension classes do not attend sport. The day concludes at 3:15pm everyday except for every Friday in terms 2 and 3 and also on sport days, where the day concludes at 2:30pm.

The Swimming carnival, athletic carnival and cross country are each held once a year, at Blacktown Leisure Centre, Sydney Olympic Park and Strathfield's City to Surf Memorial Run respectively.

The school offers student many leadership opportunities, which include: Peer Support (Year 11), Student Representative Council (all grades), Prefect (Year 11 & 12), School/School Vice Captain and House/House Vice Captain.

Sydney Adventist College also offers, Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, wilderness skills program, bush walking, St John's first aid classes, life-saving, band, choir, debate team, mock trial, drama club, worship team, worship group, SWISSA, ACIES and National Levels of representative sport, weekly recreational sport.

[edit] Houses

As with most Australian schools, Sydney Adventist College utilises a house system. There are four houses at Sydney Adventist College, Strathfield Campus.

• Butler, represented by the colour Blue, was named after Pr L. Butler, president of the Greater Sydney Conference in 1952, the year in which the school was built at Albert Road.
• Fraser, represented by the colour Red, was named after the dux of 1944 (BAHS) who went on to become a leading scholar at Loma Linda University.
• Forsyth, represented by the colour Green, was named after Mr and Mrs C. Forsyth, whose generosity assisted the school.
• Stewart, represented by the colour Yellow, was named after Pr A. Stewart, a pioneer church worker in the South Pacific.

[edit] Sport

Sydney Adventist College is a member of the South Western Independent Schools Sporting Association (SWISSA). The school is represented by their SAC style; Blue, Red and White sports uniform. The association consists of six co-educational independent schools that compete on a weekly basis in the following sports: basketball, netball, soccer, oz tag and softball. Students have the opportunity to be selected for these representative sports, and recognition of their participation is given in assembly and reports.

The school has many sporting opportunities including representative sports. The school offers over 50 sport choices but only a few are up for selection each term in order to make other sports more appealing the next time it is available, and in order to stop students getting sick of them and trying something different. Some of the sports include: Aqua Aerobics, Tennis, Laser Tag, Skateboarding, Golf, Self Defence, Ice Skating, Soccer, Surfing, Basketball, Weight Training and Cycling. Representative sporting choices include, Soccer, Basketball and Oz Tag.

[edit] Connecting schools

The Adventist primary education schools in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong 'feed' students to Sydney Adventist College. The school was the only high school of the Adventist Education System up until late 90's as new Adventist high schools started to develop, namely, Mountain View Adventist College and Hills Adventist College. This was decided by the Greater Sydney Conference because student numbers had increase and there was more need of a secondary education system closer to the residence of students. However Sydney Adventist College still serves as a main campus for students from Sydney CBD, Wollongong, Northern and Southern Suburbs, Western Suburbs and Coastal Suburbs.

[edit] Future plans

The school has planned for extra buildings to be built and for a new middle school to be introduced in 2009. The middle school will cater to Years 5 and 6.

The school also awaiting approval for ownership of a new campus at Hurstville, which will replace Hurstville Adventist School.

There has been plans for a second visitor carpark and enlargement of the existing carpark. Diabled access to higher floors of the school have been planned as well, including the West Wing upgrade.

[edit] Adventist College of English

The Adventist College of English is an annexe of Sydney Adventist College for international students, focusing on the subjects of, English and Australian Studies. This school offers the High School Preparation Course for students who wish to enter an Australian high school or course. The students can attend part-time or full-time classes. Full-time students will enter mainstream when they are competent in their studies in Adventist College of English, as well as attend regular assemblies, sport and other SAC activities and events. The Adventist College of English is located in the designated lower quadrangle within the school campus. The Adventist College of english has its own classrooms and computer labs.

[edit] Notable Alumni

Sydney Adventist College has had many past students that have become of high status and well known. Some have become athletes and many have gone into the media and entertainment business.

[edit] Sport

Viliame Ratu - Rugby player for the Southern Districts
Robert Wolf Gramm - Former rugby player

[edit] Associated schools and institutions

[edit] Sister schools in Sydney

Sydney Adventist College has multiple sister schools in Sydney, which is owned and operated by the same conference (Greater Sydney Conference) they include:

• Sydney Adventist College, Auburn Campus, Auburn (PK-6)
• Mountain View Adventist College, Doonside (PK-12)
• Hills Adventist College, Castle Hill Campus, Castle Hill (PK-6)
• Hills Adventist College, Kellyville Campus, Kellyville (7-9)
• Macarthur Adventist College, Macarthur (PK-10)
• Hurstville Adventist School, Hurstville (PK-6)
• Illawarra Adventist School, Corrimal (K-6)
• Wahroonga Adventist School, Wahroonga (PK-6)
• Avondale College, Lake Macquarie (University)

[edit] Closely related sister schools

Sydney Adventist College has many closely related school that are not located in Sydney, some include:

• Avondale School, Cooranbong (E-12)
• Brisbane Adventist College, Brisbane (P-12)
• Carmel Adventist College, Perth (7-12)
• Central Coast Adventist School, Gosford (P-10)
• Gold Coast Adventist College, Reedy Creek (P-12)
• Prescott College, Adelaide (7-12)

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• List of non-government schools in New South Wales
• List of Seventh-day Adventist academies and elementary schools

[edit] External links

• Sydney Adventist College Website
• Sydney Adventist College, Auburn Campus Website
• Greater Sydney Adventist Schools
• The Greater Sydney Conference Website
• Adventist Schools Australia
• Adventist Schools Australia Old Website